Homosexuality: A Biblical
Perspectiveby
Gil Rugh
Pastor, Indian Hills Community Church
Lincoln, Nebraska

F O R E W O R D

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards,
nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were
some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God" (1
Corinthians 6:9-11).

It is no surprise that the unbelieving world practices
such sins. However, it should be noted that this type of behavior is being
increasingly accepted, and in some cases encouraged, within the Church. What
does this say about the spiritual condition of the Church today? Does the
Bible support the claims of those who say behavior such as homosexuality
should no longer be considered sin? Are these simply the claims of those
who have twisted the Scripture "to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16)?

In this commentary, Gil Rugh, pastor of Indian Hills Community
Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, examines the truth of the Old and New Testaments
to present what Gods Word clearly teaches about homosexuality, the
"forgotten sin." It is hoped that this material will help Christians come
to a better understanding of God, Who is not only loving, but completely
righteous and holy as well.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

In todays society, homosexuality has become "the
forgotten sin." While Scripture is clear on the subject, the Church has quickly,
and meekly followed the world and softened its stance. This book examines
Gods revealed truth about homosexuality in both the Old and New
Testaments.

Homosexuals are not to be singled out and rallied against
by Christians. Their sin is no greater than anyone elses. It was James
who said more damage is done by the tongue than by any other sin. Christians
need to be careful not to gather up our self-righteous robes and attack a
particular sin that we, ourselves, do not struggle with. We are to examine
this subject as sinners redeemed by grace, not as superiors with authority.
Nevertheless, the Church needs to be clear on what the Bible teaches about
homosexuality. My concern is not that the world has deemed homosexuality
an acceptable form of sexual expression, but that the Church has willingly
done so.

It should come as no surprise that the world has declared
homosexuality a behavioral norm. In a September, 1992 editorial in The
New York Times, Dr. Richard Isay asserts that a "consensus is growing
among mental health professionals that homophobia, the irrational fear and
hatred of homosexuals, is a psychological abnormality that interferes with
the judgment and reliability of those afflicted."1 Isay is chairman
of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Issues Committee, of the American Psychiatric
Association.

How quickly the world changes. Not long ago, psychiatrists
believed homosexuality was a form of mental illness. Now they say homosexuality
is normal, while those who oppose it have a mental illness. It is easy to
see the total lack of scientific validity of psychiatry or psychology when
one understands how their theories are established. Whatever the popular
view of the world may be, the "psychological sciences" are sure to support
that view.

Notice the definition of homophobia according to Dr. Isay.
It is the "irrational fear and hatred of homosexuals." Does this definition
imply there is also a rational fear and hatred of homosexuals? This
definition puts anyone who opposes homosexuality in a box. They are irrational
and hateful. The problem is, this definition cannot apply to a Christian
addressing the subject of homosexuality according to Scripture. Irrational
thoughts and hatred have nothing to do with what God says about the subject,
but that is not how the world sees it. If a Christian condones homosexuality,
he is in open rebellion to the Word of God. On the other hand, if a believer
opposes homosexuality, the world says he is irrational, hateful and cannot
make a reliable judgment. Also, if a person does not accept homosexuality
as a perfectly normal expression of love, the world says he is mentally ill.
There is no way to win.

What positions are Christians taking regarding homosexuality?
A recent article in Christianity Today by Andres Tapia proclaimed
"Homosexuality Debate Strains Campus Harmony."2 The article began,
"Christian college campuses across the country have become the setting for
an intense struggle over homosexuality."3 That, in itself, reflects
a changing attitude. Homosexuality used to be one of the black and white
issues all Christians agreed upon: homosexuality was sin. Now, it is in the
forefront of intense debates raging on Evangelical Christian campuses across
the nation. Proponents of homosexuality assert that gay rights include freedom
of speech, academic freedom, and freedom of theological beliefs.

The only question that needs to be addressed is that of
theological beliefs. The subject of homosexuality as a sin has nothing to
do with the Constitution of the United States of America, but it has everything
to do with the Word of the Living God. The issue is, "What does the Bible
say about homosexuality?"

At Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, great turmoil
was raised as an anti-homosexual rights speaker arrived on campus. After
more than one thousand students attended his speech, the administrators decided
that they must also present the pro-homosexual view. In a similar situation,
a group of self-defined "Christian" students from Eastern College (formerly
Eastern Baptist College) in St. David, Pennsylvania, marched in the gay rights
parade in Washington, D. C., our nations capital. Gordon College in
Wenham, Massachusetts, also has had serious debate over this issue.

On the other side, the Christian and Missionary
Alliances Nyack College in New York did not renew the contract of a
teacher who proudly displayed a button that read "support gay rights." The
president of the university was also fired for defending the teachers
actions.

In his Christianity Today article, Tapia went on
to write, "most of the schools involved in the recent controversies either
officially make, or are considering the distinction between homosexual
orientation and homosexual conduct."4 This is disastrous reasoning.
When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a "new creature; the old things
passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The description
of someone as a homosexual, or an alcoholic, or an adulterer, or whatever
area of sin someone was involved in, has validity before he becomes
a believer. When someone has experienced life-changing salvation through
Christ, however, the power of sin no longer controls that person. He is a
"new creature." There is no distinction between orientation and conduct in
the Bible.

One reason the Church has gotten into so much trouble is
due to the authority that has been given to psychiatrists, psychologists,
and sociologists. Consider what Tony Campollo, professor of sociology at
Eastern College said concerning the subject of homosexuality: "Evangelicals
have been undeniably cruel and mean. I feel that the way the Church is behaving
toward gays is an embarrassment to Jesus."5 The article continues,
"these stands, as well as the large number of students who wrote letters
to their school newspaper condemning the bitterness of the debate, seems
to have reassured some homosexuals that it might be safe for them to remain
enrolled at Christian colleges."6

Another concern is the political activity of accrediting
associations. Some states have passed homosexual rights legislation. Richard
Gathro, Vice President of the Christian College Coalition said, "Some Christian
schools might become vulnerable to losing accreditation, or to
lawsuits."7

The "coming out" of homosexuals who say they remain true
to their Evangelical Christian heritage is galvanizing the theological debate.
These students are often respected by their peers and teachers, and their
faith language sounds familiar. They feel they are being good Christians.
The issue is not what "feels right," but what is biblically right.
Correct biblical interpretation has nothing to do with feelings and emotion.
Christians must take a position on a subject by looking at the theology first,
second, and last.

When emotions and feelings become part of the consideration
in an issue such as homosexuality, we begin to question the validity of the
Bible. Thoughts creep in such as, "I know that person who said hes
gay. Hes pretty nice. He doesnt cause any problems. I respect
his opinion in class. He publicly displayed his faith in Christ last year.
Whats the big deal? Lets just go on with our lives and not make
an issue out of his homosexuality." That may seem nice, but Christians are
not called to "get on with our lives." They are called to take a biblical
stand with Christian love. The character of Christ must characterize all
who are believers in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Often, those who are genuine Bible-believing Christians
are called "narrow-minded," "judgmental," and "bigots" because of the stand
taken against the things welcomed by the world. The stand Jesus Christ took
against all sin, however, could not be any clearer. He was perhaps
the most "narrow-minded," "judgmental," "bigoted" person to ever walk the
face of the earth, as viewed by this worlds standards.

Within the homosexuality debate is the argument that claims
scriptural acceptance of homosexuals. A leader in this movement recently
asserted that Scripture forbids only the act of homosexual prostitution.
He asserts that a monogamous homosexual relationship based on love is within
the bounds of a scriptural relationship. He said, "If homosexual students
on Christian campuses do not find support, they will go outside of the school
to find it. If gay students cant date on campus, where are they going
to find someone to share their life with?"8 How does this question
have anything to do with the issue? Are we to believe that we cannot tell
a homosexual he is in sin, because he might leave the campus of a Christian
school, without finding a homosexual, lifelong partner? The Apostle Paul
instructed Christians on how to deal with such situations. He said, "deliver
such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may
be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 5:5).

The article in Christianity Today concludes, "Because
they are often respected, likeable and spiritually committed students, the
issue moves from being solely a political and moral debate to being an
agonizingly personal one."9 Well, that is just not true. Homosexuality
is a biblical issue, not a political issue. How we "feel" about it is not
relevant. What the Bible says about it is completely relevant.

For believers, the pressure from the world to conform to
its standards is intense. Romans 12:1, 2 reminds us how we are to live
as children of God. Paul says, "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to
God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed
to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and
perfect." When believers allow themselves to be harnessed by the standards
of this world, they are being conformed, rather than transformed.

There are two foundational points I would like to examine
before delving into the biblical view of homosexuality. The first is found
in Isaiah 8:19:"And when they say to you, Consult the mediums and the
spiritists who whisper and mutter,  should not a people consult their
God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?" In this
passage Israel was turning to other things besides the Living God to set
their standard. They were even consulting the mediums and the spiritists.
In Isaiah 8:20, Isaiah goes on to say, "To the law and to the testimony!
If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn."
In other words, if someone disagrees with the revealed Word of God, it is
because they are in darkness. Gods Word is absolute truth and is the
only true standard by which we must live.

The second point that must be understood is that Scripture
is not to be reinterpreted to fit particular needs and wants. This is what
the proponents of "Christian" gay rights are doing. In 2 Peter 3:14 we read,
"Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found
by Him in peace, spotless and blameless." Peter continues, "As also in all
his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things
hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do
also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore,
beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away
by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness" (2
Peter 3:16,17). Christians must be wary of those who distort Gods
truth.

In the Church today, the Scripture is being twisted over
and over again, and many believers are being misled by unprincipled men.
Behavior which the Bible unequivocally condemns is being welcomed with open
arms, while biblical standards and commandments are being called "outdated,"
"narrow-minded" and "unloving."

C H A P T E R O N E

What Does the Old Testament Say?

The Old Testament view of homosexuality begins in Genesis.
Gods purposes for man and woman are seen in the biblical account of
creation in Genesis 1 and 2. The acceptance of homosexuality in the Church
can be traced to an erosion of the understanding that men and women have
very distinct roles that differ from, yet compliment each other. In the past,
the majority of churches recognized the truth that the Bible defined homosexual
behavior as sinful. More recently, however, the roles of men and women began
to be blurred to the point where the only difference was that women could
have children, while men could not. Thus, these churches created a unisex
humanity. Suddenly, homosexual behavior was not so hard to accept.

Genesis 1:26 recounts the creation of mankind. Moses wrote,
"Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness. " Continuing in verse 27, we are told, "And God created man
in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He
created them." In Genesis 1:31, Moses tells us the opinion God had of His
creation, "And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good."
This includes, at that point, the one man and one woman that God had
made.

In Genesis 2 an elaboration of the creation account is
given. In Genesis 2:7 Moses declared, "Then the Lord God formed man of dust
from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man
became a living being." Then God placed man into the garden He had created.
God created the first man. He was perfect. He had no flaws, no imperfections,
and no shortcomings. Yet something was missing. In Genesis 2:18, God said,
"It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable
for him." Incidentally, the word "helper" is not a put down as so many feminists
love to claim. It is a word that was used by God Himself in the Old Testament.
God knew that man was not complete by himself. He needed a helper who
complemented him. He needed a helper who was fitted to him.

First, however, God created the animals (Genesis 2:19).
Why did He do this? He wanted Adam to realize that he was alone. It was not
that God all of a sudden realized Adam wouldnt be happy having a cow
as a mate. God wanted Adam to be receptive of the woman He was going to create
for him, and understand that he was not yet complete.

Genesis 2:21-24 gives the account of the creation of woman,
and establishes the foundation for the marriage relationship of all men and
women. Moses said, "So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the
man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh
at that place. And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had
taken from the man, and brought her to the man. And the man said, This
is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man. For this cause a man shall leave
his father and his mother; and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become
one flesh." This account is foundational to all Scripture. The Old and New
Testaments build continually and consistently on the truth of the creation
of man and woman with distinct roles within the marriage relationship.

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul referred to the creation account
to make his point that God established a certain order of authority. Paul
reminds us, "For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for
indeed man was not created for the womans sake, but woman for the
mans sake" (1 Corinthians 11:8, 9). Men and women were created differently.
Adam was created from the dust of the ground, but Eve was created from
Adams rib. God created man and woman differently for a reason. He could
have created both man and woman from dust, but God did not want two separate,
independent entities. He wanted two people who were fitted together,
complementing each other.

A woman is the perfect counterpart for a man. She is necessary
for the man to completely fulfill his responsibilities before God. Only those
with the special God-given gift of celibacy have the ability to meet these
responsibilities without the help of a marriage partner. Consequently, we
understand that God did not create men and women to go their own separate
ways, but intended a man and a woman to be together, helping each other in
a lifelong marriage relationship.

The establishment of the marriage relationship is seen
in Genesis 2:24. Adam and Eve began as one flesh. He was part of her, and
she was part of him. The bond established in a marriage relationship supersedes
the physical relationship between a man and woman. It also supersedes the
relationship between parents and children. This bond between a husband and
wife is expressed through the sexual relationship. Although the relationship
goes beyond sex, it is this sexual union that expresses the oneness that
God intended for the husband and wife.

In the New Testament, Matthew 19:4-6 validates what the
Old Testament says on this subject. When asked about the subject of divorce,
Jesus said, "Have you not read, that He who created them from the
beginning made them male and female, and said, For this reason a man
shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the
two shall become one flesh?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." Jesus condemned
the Pharisees for not knowing the truth of Genesis 2. Not only did Jesus
emphasize that relationships are to be between males and females, He specifies
that relationships are to be between one male and one female, for an entire
lifetime. Men and women are perfectly fitted to meet one anothers
needs.

Today, the Church is following the worlds pattern.
In 1972, 76% of all adults were married. By 1992, that figure had dropped
to 54%. It is apparent that Christian men need to get back into the Scriptures
and take a spiritual leadership role in their families. A man is to leave
his mother and father and cleave to his wife. We should not be surprised
that the world rejects the Word of God concerning marriage, but it is appalling
that those within the Church also reject His Word concerning marriage.

In the New Testament, Hebrews 13:4 reminds us that there
are consequences to rejecting the Word of God. God said, "Let marriage be
held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled;
for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." When men and women are called
before the judgment throne of God, the question will not be, "what was the
law and accepted practice in your state?" The question will be "what does
Gods Word say?" That is the divine authority.

The problem today is that the Church has rejected the roles
God outlined for men and women. In Christian homes across the country, daughters
are encouraged to act exactly like the sons in the family. There is no
distinction between the roles of men and women. As the world becomes more
rebellious and contrary to the mandates of Scripture, so too, does the church
that is not grounded in the Word of God.

It is easy to understand how these types of churches have
come to reject the established male and female roles found in the Bible.
When gender lines are erased, what does it matter if a man has a sexual
relationship with another man, or a woman with another woman? They love each
other dont they? Surely God understands that this is the 1990s. This
is the worldly attitude that many churches are taking, but it is in direct
opposition to the Word of God.

Another popular movement today is male and female bonding.
It is not wrong for men to get together, or women to get together, and enjoy
each others company. The idea, however, that our closest bond on earth
is with those of the same sex is a blatant lie. Our closest bond on earth
is to be with our husband or wife. God has provided the perfect helpmate
for us through that person. This is why it is so important that the scriptural
position on mens and womens roles be clearly taught. When we
dont have a clear understanding of Scripture, it is only a matter of
time before we are lured from the truth of the Word of God by the "unprincipled"
teachers Peter warned us about.

Rebellion against the Word of God is usually stronger in
one area than another. This is a direct result of the fall of mankind seen
in Genesis 3. Since that time, every man and woman has been on a course of
rebellion against God, rebelling in one area at one time, and another at
another time.

For example, homosexuality was once viewed as sinful behavior
in our society. Now it is viewed as an acceptable lifestyle, and it is openly
encouraged. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were also in this situation.
Their prevailing sin was sodomy (unnatural sexual acts with members of the
same sex). Many proponents of gay rights say that Sodom and Gomorrah cannot
be considered as a scriptural basis for the sin of homosexuality because
these homosexual relationships were not between two loving, monogamous homosexual
partners. Rather, they claim that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah had to do
with the fact that sodomy was forced on those who did not willingly participate.
In other words, homosexuality was not the sin, rape was.

These same people also quote Ezekiel 16, saying that the
real downfall of Sodom and Gomorrah was their love of materialism. Certainly
the people of Sodom and Gomorrah had many sins. Their corruption ate away
at their moral fiber and created an environment that was open to decadent
practices. The book of Jude specifically says God judged Sodom and Gomorrah
for their "gross immorality," and because they "went after strange flesh"
(Jude 7). The focus of Jude was their sexual sin, not their love of
money.

Genesis 19:4, 5 is also clear on this point. In reference
to the angels disguised as men who were staying with Lot, Moses said, "Before
they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house,
both young and old, all the people from every quarter; and they called to
Lot and said to him, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring
them out to us that we may have relations with them. " Some people
have twisted this verse, saying, "This doesnt mean the men of Sodom
wanted to have sex. They just wanted to get to know, and be friends, with
these new people."

Lots response to the men who came to him, however,
indicates otherwise. Lot said, "Please my brothers, do not act wickedly.
Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please
let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing
to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof" (Genesis
19:7,8). This response makes clear that Lot understood what these men really
wanted. They wanted to have sexual relations. In our society, it is impossible
for us to understand how Lot could offer his own daughters for the sexual
fulfillment of these men. In biblical times however, the worst thing that
could happen was to have a house guest come under harm. Lot was forced to
offer his daughters to save his guests.

Genesis 19:9 illustrates the attitude people have when
they are told their behavior is sinful: "But they said, Stand aside.
Furthermore, they said, This one came in as an alien, and already he
is acting like a judge. " Not much has changed since the days of Sodom
and Gomorrah. When you confront someone about their sin, what do they normally
say? They usually say, "Who made you the judge? Go away and live your own
life."

What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah is clear. God judged
them based on their sensuality and utterly destroyed the cities (Jude 7).
Leviticus 18:22 warns us that homosexuality is sinful, "You shall not lie
with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." An "abomination"
is something defiled and offensive to God. Homosexual activity defiles the
individual who practices this behavior, and also defiles the nation that
tolerates this activity. This was the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. In Leviticus
18:24, 25 God said, "Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for
by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled.
For the land has become defiled, therefore I have visited its punishment
upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants."

God then warned Israel in Leviticus 18:28-30: "So that
the land may not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out
the nation which has been before you. For whoever does any of these abominations,
those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. Thus you
are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs
which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with
them; I am the Lord your God."

Scripture is absolutely clear: there is to be a difference
between the people of God and the people of the world. To be perfectly blunt,
it is a puzzle how the homosexuality issue has become such an intense debate
on Christian college campuses across the nation. The Word of God forbids
the practice of homosexuality, period.

Some advocates continue to twist and distort Scripture,
claiming that all references to homosexuality refer to the practice of male
or female prostitution or rape. They theorize that if two homosexuals have
a loving, monogamous relationship, God does not condemn their union. This
is a blatant lie. Leviticus 18:22 refers to all acts involving homosexual
behavior. It doesnt matter if they love each other or not. God says
homosexuality is sin.

The same is true for bestiality. Bestiality crosses the
line that God has established. This is evidenced in the fact that a human
cannot have offspring with any kind of animal. Homosexuality crosses the
line God has established as well. Homosexuals move from the natural to the
unnatural which Romans 1 emphasizes so strongly. Adultery or fornication
between a male and a female is a perversion of the natural relationship God
intended for man and woman, but homosexuality and bestiality move into the
realm of the unnatural. They are activities that are contrary to the laws
of creation.

How seriously does God take homosexuality? Leviticus 20:13
declares, "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a
woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be
put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them." Leviticus 20 is in the
context of the holiness of God and His people. Leviticus 20:7 says, "You
shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your
God." Again in Leviticus 20:26, God said, "Thus you are to be holy to Me,
for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be
Mine."

Supporters of homosexuality often claim this passage refers
only to incest, but they limit the context. Leviticus 20 is in the context
of incest, bestiality, and homosexuality. When the door is open to activity
such as bestiality, other corruption and sinful behavior follows close behind.
Obviously homosexuals are not put to death today, but the seriousness of
homosexuality and all sin is made clear in Leviticus.

Another passage in the Old Testament that concerns
homosexuality is found in Judges 19. Here there is an account that is very
similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. In Judges 19, a Levite
man traveled to Judah to bring back a concubine who had been unfaithful to
him. She was living in her fathers house. As they traveled back he
decided to stay in the Benjamite city of Gibeah. While waiting at the city
square, a man invited them to spend the night at his house. In biblical times,
it was customary to wait in the city square until someone offered their
hospitality.

After they arrived at the mans house, the men of
Gibeah approached. "While they were celebrating, behold, the men of the city,
certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they
spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, Bring out the
man who came into your house that we may have relations with him "
(Judges 19:22). This is almost the same situation that occurred earlier in
Sodom and Gomorrah. How could Gods own people do this? This was supposed
to be a safe city in which to stay. The sin so repugnant to God had become
a characteristic of some of the people of Gods elect nation.

This is a perfect example of the total depravity of man.
Sinful behavior that once took place only in cities such as Sodom and Gomorrah
began to take place in the nation of Gods chosen people. "Then the
man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, No,
my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my
house, do not commit this act of folly " (Judges 19:23). The owner
of the house offered his daughter as Lot had. The men of the city took the
visitors concubine and raped her all night long until she died. The
visitor then cut his concubine into 12 pieces (one for each tribe of Israel).
He sent the pieces throughout Israel, proclaiming what happened to him and
his concubine while he was staying in a city that was part of the nation.

The other tribes condemned the actions of the men in the
city of Gibeah saying, " Now then, deliver up the men, the worthless
fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness
from Israel. But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice
of their brothers, the sons of Israel" (Judges 20:13). Even the people of
the tribe of Benjamin who did not participate in this sinful activity believed
that those who did had every right to do what they wanted, and were willing
to defend their right to participate in that behavior. In fact, they were
so adamant in defending the rights of the wicked, that 25,000 of them died
for the cause.

Did this make any sense? The tribe of Benjamin was almost
annihilated while defending the rights of a group of bi-sexual rapists. Do
you see how corrupted they had become?

Many are concerned that the Church is on the same track
today. The same path to acceptance that the tribe of Benjamin took in Judges
19 seems to be the way many churches are going.

The Old Testament is very clear that all homosexual activity
is sin. It is an abomination to God. The Good News is that God has provided
a solution for all our sins: the God-man Jesus Christ. The New Testament
reveals the forgiveness, redemption and freedom from sin (including
homosexuality), that God has provided through Jesus Christ.

C H A P T E R T W O

What Does the New Testament Say?

Romans 1 is a very familiar and foundational New Testament
passage. Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power
of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also
to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to
faith; as it is written, But the righteous man shall live by faith.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans
1:16-18).

It is imperative that we see ourselves as God sees us.
This passage illustrates that truth. Man is guilty of suppressing the truth
that God has revealed about Himself. God is revealed even in creation (Romans
1:20). Because man will not acknowledge Gods "invisible attributes,
His eternal power and divine nature," he is without excuse.

God has given enough revelation of Himself in creation
alone to condemn a man. Sufficient evidence exists to prove that man is in
continual rebellion against God and His revelation. It is out of this rejection
that the sinful character of man is illustrated. In Romans 1:21, Paul said,
"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks;
but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was
darkened." This is in reference to total darkness, both spiritual and moral.
Those who have their foolish heart darkened live in a realm that does not
let in the light of the truth of Gods Word. They exchange "the glory
of the incorruptible God" (Romans 1:23) and create their own false god.

Those who reject God must accept the judgment of God. He
turns them over to their own sinful desires. He does not cause them to sin,
but He withdraws Himself from them and allows them to pursue the sin that
they love. They get to do what they want. This is a display of Gods
wrath because He allows the unbeliever to be consumed and destroyed by his
sinful desire.

Paul said, "God gave them over" three times in Romans 1:24,
26, 28. The natural sinful character of man is allowed to play itself out.
The result is depravity. Paul said, "For this reason God gave them over to
degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that
which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural
function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men
with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the
due penalty of their error" (Romans 1:26-27). Homosexuality is given as an
example of the kind of behavior that is a result of the rejection of God.
It is not the only example of sinful behavior that is listed in Romans 1,
but it is the example that is given the most attention.

The list of depraved behavior at the end of Romans 1 only
serves to illustrate that the ills of society cannot be cured apart from
God. The root of the problem is mankinds rejection of a righteous God
and His Word. A clear picture of that is the example of homosexuality in
Romans 1:26, 27. Romans 1:26 says they "exchanged the natural function for
that which is unnatural." Homosexuals and lesbians are in direct rebellion
to the established rules of creation that God outlined in Genesis 1. The
"unnatural function" occurs when women "exchanged the natural function" and
"in the same way" men "burned in their desire toward one another, men with
men committing indecent acts."

Romans 1 is Gods evaluation of homosexuality and
lesbianism. It has nothing to do with homophobia or irrational fear and hatred
of homosexuals. It has everything to do with understanding that God is sovereign.
Ultimately everyone who rejects God will stand before the judgment throne
of Christ to give an account of his deeds. In Romans 1:26, 27, the Creator
clearly indicates that homosexuality violates the natural relationship between
a man and woman that He established at creation. It is sin.

What about the intense desires homosexuals have for one
another? Often gay or lesbian people say, "I have known I was gay (or lesbian)
since I was young. Even then, I had a burning desire to be with other men
(women). Thats just who I am." Well, that is not the way Paul deals
with homosexuality in Romans 1. This is not a denial of the fire that is
burning within a homosexual. However, God defines that "burning" as the
consequence of rejecting Him and living in sin.

Today, many peopleeven Christiansare saying
that those who oppose homosexuality on biblical grounds are not caring enough,
and dont truly understand homosexuals. Romans 1:26, 27 tells us in
no uncertain terms that God understands homosexuals completely and identifies
their activity as a mark of depravity.

The end result of sinful behavior is made clear in Romans
1:32. "Although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such
things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty
approval to those who practice them." Remember the account in Judges 19 when
over 25,000 Benjamites died as a result of their approval of the homosexual/
raping activity of the wicked men in that city. The principle is clear: those
who give approval of sinful behavior are worthy of judgment along with those
who practice such things. The position of the Church should be obvious.
Christians cannot in any way approve or support such behavior. This does
not mean to stop showing love to people who practice such things, but there
is a difference between showing love and showing approval.

First Timothy 1:8-10 addresses this situation as well.
Paul said, "But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing
the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are
lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane,
for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men
and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else
is contrary to sound teaching." It is clear that homosexuality is completely
contrary to the truth of the Word of God with which Paul had been entrusted
(1 Timothy 1:11). It is classified among activity that is considered ungodly
and sinful, being placed alongside such sin as murdering ones parents,
immorality, lying, and kidnapping.

It is interesting that all these sins have increasingly
become accepted in our society. Many cases of parental murder have been heard
in courts across the nation during the past several years. Sentences of the
guilty are reduced in some cases because of alleged verbal or physical abuse.
Psychologists testify that the murderers had reason or excuse to kill. These
examples and those involving adultery and other sins, indicate that the nation
as a whole gives hearty approval to those who practice these types of
activities.

It should not be shocking that the world considers
homosexuality acceptable behavior. Those who have rejected the one, true,
Living God dwell in a realm of complete spiritual darkness. When the Church
embraces homosexuality as normal, however, it raises serious questions as
to the spiritual condition of those who voice acceptance. Second Peter 3:16
says, those who twist the Scripture do so to their doom: "Which the untaught
and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their
own destruction."

Paul warns us about such behavior as homosexuality. He
said, "Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor homosexuals . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1
Corinthians 6:9, 10). Those who continually practice these types of activities
will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul warned us directly: "Do not be
deceived." Those who twist and distort Scripture to their own liking will
come up with all kinds of arguments why they are right, but the Word of God
stands true. "Do not be deceived . . . homosexuals . . . shall not inherit
the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10).

Can a true believer fall into these types of sins? Yes,
a true believer can fall into any kind of sin. David fell into adultery and
murder. However, those two incidents stand out in his life. He was not
continually practicing adultery and murder, then trying to defend it by twisting
Scripture to fit his needs. These actions were out of character for King
David. He recognized his rebellion to God and repented of his sin. This is
how a true believer reacts when he is confronted by the truth of Scripture.
David didnt whine and complain. He didnt say, "This isnt
fair. I love Bathsheba. Surely God will take that into consideration.
Uriahs murder was an accident. Surely God understands my situation.
I mean, the law was written years ago. It is time for God to update His Word."
David didnt do any of these things. Instead, after he was confronted
with his sin he said, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13) and
repented of his sinful activity.

This raises a serious question concerning the spiritual
condition of those who continue to live a homosexual lifestyle while claiming
to be believers in Jesus Christ. As we come to the Word of God, we are warned
not to be deceived. God has no place in His kingdom for people who reject
the truth of His Word. Who am I to judge? I am no one, but the Almighty God
determines who enters His kingdom. His Word says those whose lives are
characterized by the behaviors listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (everyone who
has not come to trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ for salvation)
will not enter heaven. This includes homosexuals. Can a homosexual who denies
Gods Word time after time, and continues to live a gay lifestyle be
a true Christian? According to 1 Corinthians 6, the answer is "no."

Recently, I read an article in which a pastor of a church
on the West Coast allowed a young man to be a member of his church while
still practicing homosexuality. The young man died of AIDS. Previously the
pastor had told him he could not be in leadership in the church, but he could
attend the church and still be involved in homosexual activity. In other
words, the man was told he could be a Christian and still practice homosexuality.
As the Church, how far are we to let that go? We must rely only on Scripture.
For example, how much homosexual behavior did Paul allow in the church at
Corinth? According to 1 Corinthians, the answer is "none."

So, what are we to do? Society says, "People are born
homosexual. They cant help who they are." What is the correct answer?
In 1 Corinthians 6:11 Paul writes, "And such were some of you; but you were
washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." Praise the Lord. He has
given us the answer. Jesus Christ came to earth to wash sinners, to sanctify
us, to set us apart for God so we might be declared righteous. Scripture
does not say Christ died so we may continue to live in sin, and anyone who
says so is in direct opposition to the Word of the Living God.

Dont miss the beautiful promise in 1 Corinthians
6:11. Paul, writing under divine inspiration said, "Such were some of you."
Were is in the imperfect tense, which indicates a continuous action
that occurred in the past. Paul is saying, "some of you lived a life of
fornication, adultery, homosexuality, covetousness and drunkenness, but now
you are believers in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He has cleansed
you of your sin, and you are no longer the sinful person you used to be."
This is why it is an error for someone to say "Im a homosexual Christian."
That statement is a contradiction in terms. God says when someone becomes
a Christian, he is a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17). His homosexual behavior
was characteristic of his former lifestyle.

People ask, "But isnt the issue that we should not
practice sin? Does it really matter if someone claims to be a homosexual
as long as they are not practicing?" According to Scripture, it does matter.
Isnt this the whole argument of Romans 1? Practice flows out of who
you are. When people reject God, activities such as homosexuality flow out
of them. God says this type of behavior is an identifying characteristic
of those who stand in rebellion to Him and His Word. When a Christian says
"Im a homosexual," he is actually saying, "I claim to be a person whose
normal activity is openly rebellious against God and His Word, but thats
okay because I dont practice those activities anymore." If that person
is really a Christian, that statement is right. He doesnt practice
that type of activity anymore. However, according to 1 Corinthians 6:11,
he can no longer call himself a homosexual. That was his title in the past.
Someone who committed murder before he became a believer doesnt say,
"Im a Christian murderer," because thats what he was in the past.
His life has been changed. The same is true for all sinful behavior, including
homosexuality.

Salvation has been reduced to the point that it is only
a word. People say, "thats great youre saved, but youre
still a homosexual," or "thats great youre saved, but youre
still an alcoholic." Statements like these are not found in Scripture. Romans
6:6, 7 identifies what happens when a sinner is saved: "Knowing this, that
our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away
with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed
from sin." When we believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ, all that
we were before is nailed to the cross at Calvary, along with our old body.
We are no longer enslaved to sin. Paul continues in Romans 6:17, 18: "But
thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient
from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and
having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."

There are times, however, when our old sin lifestyle tries
to rear its ugly head. We have all had this experience. However, the promise
God gives us as believers is that we are no longer enslaved to sin. We are
enslaved to righteousness. The power of sin to rule our lives has been broken.
Sometimes the struggle seems almost too much to bear. As Paul said, "For
that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what
I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate" (Romans 7:15).
Sometimes our bodies would like to indulge in the sins of the past and taste
the sweetness of forbidden waters. Why does a man abandon a lovely wife and
have a sexual relationship with another woman? As Proverbs 9:17 declares,
"bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

The Puritans called these our "bosom sins." These are sins
that have a special appeal to us. It is much easier, of course, for me to
see your bosom sins than it is for me to see mine. We need to be careful
that we dont begin to feel comfortable with our own bosom sins, while
we openly attack the bosom sins of others. That does not mean that we are
not to take a strong stance against sinful behavior such as homosexuality,
but we need to have as much disdain for our own sin as the sins of
others.

Paul emphasizes the provision that has been made for our
sin in Romans 7. A believer in Jesus Christ has been set free from the power
and authority of sin in his life. If that sin is homosexuality, he will be
able, by the grace of God, to live a normal, righteous life. This is the
reason God makes us "new creatures" in Him. His intention is that we are
able to serve Him in righteousness.

How does God allow us to overcome the power of sin? Are
we, like the popular television ad says, to "just do it?" In Romans 8:1,
2 Paul says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you
free from the law of sin and of death." The law demanded righteousness, but
it could not enable anyone to become righteous. Therefore, the law served
to condemn everyone without providing an answer to that condemnation. When
Christ died on the cross He provided freedom from that condemnation.

Paul went on to say, "For those who are according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according
to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is
death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5, 6).
The Spirit of God is the power of God given to all believers to live righteously
in our earthly bodies. Notice the end of Romans 8:6. Paul said that the mind
of the flesh is "death," while the mind filled with the Spirit is "life and
peace."

The battle between the flesh and the Spirit that we examined
at the end of Romans 7 is resolved in Romans 8. God says that the Spirit
brings "peace." Paul continued in Romans 8:8-11, "And those who are in the
flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,
if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the
Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. And if Christ is in you, though
the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of
righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells
in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your
mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you."

It should be clear now why it is impossible for someone
to say, "I am a Christian homosexual." A believer is freed from the power
of the flesh. If you are not freed from the power of the flesh, that is an
indication that the Spirit of God is not in you. If the Spirit of God is
not in you, you are not a true believer.

That is the reason homosexuality must be dealt with just
as Scripture addresses itas sin. When we begin saying it is a genetic
condition, or a result of the way our parents treated us, we have denied
the Word of God. Homosexuality is a sin that is the result of the fallen
condition of mankind, but Christ died so that we can have life. We can bow
before Him, turn from our sin and cast ourselves on His mercy. He promises
that when this happens He will wash us and cleanse us of all our sin. He
will remove the power of sin from our lives, even the sin of
homosexuality.

C O N C L U S I O N

So, how are we going to please God? The unregenerate man
does not have that ability. In order to please God, we have to die to the
flesh. We have to nail our bodies to the cross of Christ by believing in
His finished work of providing forgiveness for our sins. When we do this,
He gives us the ability to please and serve Him.

Therefore, the truth of the Word of God is not proclaimed
because we hate homosexuals. His Word is proclaimed because it contains a
message of life and freedom for all who sin, including those
who commit the sin of homosexuality. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power
of salvation and His name is the only name under heaven that has the power
to save us. We have to begin by recognizing sin as sin. Homosexuality is
sin. That is the barrier today, because our society believes that homosexuality
is just "the way someone is." Satan works diligently to convince people that
their behavior is anything but sin. If our behavior is sin, we are guilty
before a holy God.

Some would argue that if behavior is traced back to a "genetic
condition," "parental abuse," or something else, it is okay because the person
is not to blame. The truth of Gods Word is clear. The glorious promise
from Him is that there is no sin too strong, there is no sin too tough, there
is no sin too bad, that cannot be abolished by the power of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.

Praise God for the Gospel of our Lord. There are many people
who claim to be believers that have never come to understand their sinfulness
before a righteous and holy God. The solution is to bow before Him, the One
who loved you and died for you. When you do this, believing that He died
for you personally, you will be set free, privileged to live as a new person.
You will remember what you were, but by His grace you will now be a child
of the living God.

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